CASTRIES, St Lucia — A Southern police raid in Vieux Fort recovered two firearms, ammunition and suspected narcotics, with four men now facing criminal charges after a targeted operation in La Ressource, authorities said.
Officers attached to the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit (Southern Detachment) carried out the operation on March 24, where they encountered five men at a suspected cannabis plantation showing signs of recent harvesting.
A search of the area resulted in the seizure of two firearms, assorted ammunition, cannabis resin and cannabis plants. Police said the discovery prompted follow-up operations at multiple locations across the south.
Court fallout follows Southern police raid in Vieux Fort
Police said six individuals were arrested during the operation, but charges were filed against four men.
This latest case follows a similar enforcement action in Gros Islet, where authorities also recovered a firearm and brought charges against multiple individuals.
Nathan Augustin, 18, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of ammunition, possession of controlled drugs, and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. He was granted bail totaling $47,500 cash.
Kyron Junior Celise, 20, was charged with possession of controlled drugs and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. He was granted bail of $2,000 cash.
Keri Neptune, 28, and Dwayne William, 34, were each charged with possession of controlled drugs, cultivation of a controlled plant, and cultivation of a controlled plant with intent to supply. Both were granted bail in the sum of $2,000 cash.
Firearms and narcotics seizure widens southern probe
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has not disclosed further details about the two other individuals arrested or whether additional charges are expected.
The seizure of firearms alongside suspected drugs highlights the continued overlap between illegal weapons and narcotics activity in southern St Lucia, where law enforcement has maintained targeted operations against cultivation and supply networks.
The matter is now before the courts, with the charges marking the immediate legal fallout from an operation that also exposed the continued presence of firearms in suspected drug activity.
